Maria and Ammo may not look like your run-of-the-mill gamers, but don't let their polished exteriors fool you – they’re secretly (maybe not to secret anymore?) gaming enthusiasts. From storming the virtual battlefield in first-person shooters to embarking on fantastical quests in RPGs, they've weathered their fair share of digital demises.

In this episode, Maria and Ammo venture deep into the pixelated realms of some of their favourite video games. They dissect the portrayal of death in these digital universes and explore the psychology behind the various depictions.

Whether it's the heart-pounding intensity of a climactic battle or the whimsical charm of a game over screen, they've got it all covered. Maria and Ammo also spotlight games where death isn't just a possibility, but a prerequisite for in-game progress. 

Join your favourite macabre MC’s on a nostalgic odyssey as they revisit and look at some amazing games that even their parents would approve of!

Links:

• Representation of Death in Independent Videogames: Providing a Space for Meaningful Death Reflection via University of Central Florida

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• Twitter

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Maria's on a mission to add a splash of colour to Ammo's wardrobe, and guess what shade she's picked? Green! 

Join Maria as she chats with Candance Currie, a green burial advocate focusing on creating more green burial spaces. They dive deep into the world of green burials, explore Candance's journey into this unique field, and uncover the many benefits of going green for the afterlife. 

But that's not all! Maria and Ammo also dissect the not-so-eco-friendly aspects of other burial practices, such as modern embalming and cremation. And, because it wouldn't be Philotimo Life without it, they take a spin on the Wheel of Misfortune for some predictably chaotic fun. 

Whether you're a green burial aficionado or you've never thought twice about your final resting place, this episode promises to open your eyes to a world of alternative burial practices. 

Prepare to bury your preconceptions and embrace the green way to rest in peace!

Links:

• 11 Types of Green Burials via TalkDeath

• An Arundel Tomb by Philip Larkin via Poetry Foundation 

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• Twitter

Hey friends, 

We have a special announcement!

You'll hear Maria share that we have TWO sessions up for submission in for the 2024 SXSW programming, and we need YOUR votes! Please be sure to vote for our proposed sessions before August 20th, which is when voting closes!

Maria wants to bring these sessions to the forefront of our collective conversations and societal discussions – since grief and death literacy are life skills everyone needs – and this is one way to do it. Links to vote are below, along with a summary of each session.

Thank you for your votes and endless support 💖

VOTING LINKS

Beyond Empathy: The Superpower Skill of the Future: https://bit.ly/3P2EKcP

Good Mourning: Community Discussions Over Grief and Death: https://bit.ly/3QKN95H

SESSION DESCRIPTIONS

This session equips leaders and organizers with the skills and resources they need to lead compassionately and with a human-centric approach to navigating death and grief-related topics. This includes burnout, layoffs, the climate crisis, the death of a loved one, and other life transitions.

Good Mourning: Community Discussions Over Grief and Death

This session is a meet-up to provide a space to lessen the tension and anxiety we feel when it comes to navigating death and grief discussions. People will be provided with prompt questions to discuss topics related to dying, grief, and death and will be encouraged to discuss these topics, which are often otherwise discouraged to discuss in most settings.

Maria and Ammo delve into the realms of death, afterlife beliefs, and funeral rites in this season’s episode of Historical Perspectives of Death II! Join them as they journey through ancient tales of Norse Mythology, and explore the modern-day practices of Haitian Vodou. 

Here’s what you can expect from each segment: 

Norse Mythology

• Explore the realms of Helheim, Fólkvangr, and Valhalla

Haitian Vodou

• Gede, the spirit of death

Now's the time to rest your axe, grab some mead, and allow this shield maiden and her trusty partner in death, grief, and afterlife lore to regale you with the tales of old and new.

Links:

• Death and the Afterlife In Norse Mythology

• Twitter

Your favourite Macabre MCs are back with a very special guest!

In this episode, they hear one of Maria's dear friends and mentor, Heather Massey, discuss this new death-positive movement that's making waves. She also shares her personal experiences with death, her story about her mother's death, and how death and birth are more similar than we would typically assume...

Links:

• Death Over Dinner

• Ontario

• Twitter

Have you ever wondered why Death is often portrayed as a hooded skeleton? Or why he carries a scythe? Or why he's always a he? Well, in this episode, Maria and Ammo take you on a historical adventure to break it down! They also look at Death as presented in more popular media such as the TV show Adventure Time, and The Sandman comics. Join them for another episode that covers the multifaceted presence of death in popular media!

Links:

• The Many Appearances of Death 

• Twitter

Your favourite duo of death is back for season three! After some super exciting Philotimo Life updates (including news on a new episode schedule, and Philotimo corporate grief coaching), you'll hear from Dr. Susan Srigley. 

Susan is a Professor of Religions and Cultures at Nipissing University, Ontario, Canada. 

In this episode, you'll explore the need for higher-level death education and... a death cake cafe?

Links:

• Lifting the Lid, Why Death Education Matters To Young People w/ Prof Susan Srigley and Death Ambassadors 

• Twitter

Now that you've survived season 2, join your hosts as we look back at the most mind-blowing moments, funniest bits, and guest insights so far. But that's not all...

You'll also hear a brand-new, exclusive blooper dance track (courtesy of editor Stacie), some hilarious skits, cameos, and we'll even spitball some ideas for season three and beyond!

Oh, and you won't want to miss the head-to-head showdown for the title of "Season 2 Ultimate Thanatologist".

Stay tuned for more, folks.

Welcome to the penultimate episode of season 2! 

There’s nobody more suited to guide us through this last stage than an end-of-life expert with over 25 years of experience. Olga Nikolajev RN, MA, CT is an end-of-life nurse, doula, dying well advocate, and cannabis educator.

She’ll use her death doula skills to teach us about dying well from a holistic point of view. This includes the spiritual, mental, physical, sexual, and emotional aspects. Yep. You read that right! We’ll also talk about her work in policy change, death literacy, social support, and even advocacy for psychedelics.

Join us as we change how we approach our dying experience...

Show notes:

• Kathy Kortes-Miller Working on educating children about Death Literacy

Since you all loved the “Ancient Perspectives On Death” episode from last season, we’re resurrecting it as a regular format!

This time around, Maria and Ammo discuss The Torajan people of Indonesia, who hang out with their dead on an annual basis, Tibetan Sky Burials, and more!

Let’s see what we can learn from other cultures about giving our loved ones a proper send-off and even continuing our relationship with them.

And don’t forget to let us know what other cultures you want us to cover in future episodes.

Show notes:

• BBC News: Living with the dead in Indonesia